they got help from moderator jim lehrer who said several times we are very clear that there are very stark differences between the two of you. governor romney tried to make this a referendum on obama but that was not going anywhere so the big choice highlighting on the different issues from taxes to spending and the deficit. >> only in washington would you count $4 trillion of reduction when, in fact, the plan called for adding $1 trillion of debtry one of the next fur years. i think that is wrong. we should instead take a course represented by free democrat to get america to cap our funding, cut our spending and get us on track to a balanced budget. >>reporter: the obama campaign licking their wounds and said governor romney has a vigorous performance that was devoid of honesty. the romney campaign firing back against that saying that the obama campaign has been engaging inning in but false statements. trace, the war of words continues this far after the debate. >>trace: it will go on. john, thank you. president obama's advisor, david axelrod acknowledging that governor romney has a